National High School Musical Competition Headed To PBS

There’s something incredibly moving watching talented high school students perform in their annual musical theater shows. I was knocked out seeing these young performers at the fourth annual Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards a few weeks ago at Waterbury’s Palace Theater.

Shevance Stephens was stunning in his solo turn as Coalhouse in Regional Center for the Arts’ production of “Ragtime” winning outstanding leading actor. Ali Kramer was terrific, too, singing a number from Amity High School’s production of “Legally Blonde” Both went on to compete this week at the fourth annual National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York.

Presumably, they will among those seen in “Broadway Or Bust,” a three-part prime-time series that will premiere on Sept. 9 on PBS-TV and follow on two consecutive Sundays. The show takes a behind-the-scenes look at the national competition and the 60 students from around the country who attended the week-long “theatrical boot camp” and contest. The fourth annual national awards were presented Monday night. One thousands schools participated in all over the year.

Spoiler alert:

Winners from the nationals are Elizabeth Romero, 18, from Fullerton, Calif, who sang “A Little Brains, A Little Talent” from “Damn Yankees” and “Disneyland” from “Smile.” Joshua Grosso, 18, from Tampa, Fla. sang “All I Ask of You” from “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Il Mondo Era Vuoto” from “The Light In the Piazza.”